Iamalwaysamusedbyarti- cles that attempt to demonstrate the devalua- tion of an MBA degree, especially in tough eco-nomic times. The number ofapplicants to MBA programsactually increases significantlywhen the economy takes a tum-ble and jobs are harder to comeby. Is it partially because peoplewant a two-year respite from theprofessional world to regroupand ride out the economy?Maybe. But it is also that peoplesee an opportunity in gettingmore education and learninghow to still thrive.When I applied to businessschool in 2002, applications hadsoared at many campuses as thetech industry saw its bubbleburst. Unlike many of my peers, Ionly applied to three carefullyresearched programs — all weretop 10 schools and had equallystrong graduate schools of edu-cation affiliated with the largeruniversity. I knew that I wouldnot attend a lower tier school sodid not even bother to apply. WasI that confident that I would getinto one of my three chosenschools? Of course not! But Irealized the value that comeswith attending a topschool, especially foran MBA program. If Iwas not accepted, Iwould have workedharder and reappliedthe following year. I choseStanford for many reasons: Itsfostering of the entrepreneurialspirit, its residential program, itssmaller size, and its focus on publicmanagement, global leadership,and leadership. I was one of the fewIndian students who did not have abackground in technology, eventhough I was raised in the SiliconValley. I was also really excited to beon a campus that had nearly one-third international students. Manyof these classmates went back totheir home countries after gradua-tion and are accomplishing amaz-ing feats. Other classmates traveledto new countries to set up shop andtry their hand at a new venture. It isPURVI MODYBUSINESS SCHOOLTAUGHT ME HOW TOSEARCH OUT THERIGHT RESOURCESAND TO THINK ABOUTBUSINESS PRACTICESDIFFERENTLYalways so inspiring to hear fromclassmates about their newadventures and their greatbusiness ideas that are literallychanging the way that manypeople live their lives.

Purvi Mody is president of InsightEducation, in Cuppertino,California.